Kyle Shanahan yet to decide if Brock Purdy, 49ers starters play vs. Broncos

After resting all his starters in Week 1 of the preseason 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan still isn't sure if Brock Purdy and the first-team unit will play Saturday against the Broncos.

On more than one occasion, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has said that he prefers practices and scrimmages to actual preseason games, and those comments came out again prior to the Niners' exhibition opener on the road against the Las Vegas Raiders last Sunday.

San Francisco lost that game 34-7, but Shanahan probably wouldn't care. After two days of joint practices between the two teams, the 49ers rested their starters, including quarterback Brock Purdy.

Purdy, who underwent offseason elbow surgery and was previously taking one day off from practices after two days on the field as part of his ramp-up schedule, is now clear to resume practicing in full again.

With the Niners back home in the Bay Area and preparing to face the Denver Broncos for Week 2 of the preseason, it's still not clear whether Purdy will see his first in-game reps.

Kyle Shanahan on playing starters in 49ers vs. Broncos: 'I haven't decided yet'

Shanahan had his midweek press conference and was asked if Purdy would play after sitting out last Sunday's game in Vegas.

"I haven’t decided yet with all the starters," the head coach responded.

That approach made perfect sense for Week 1 of the preseason, given San Francisco engaged in those two days of joint practices with the Raiders, which falls in line with what Shanahan has said about his preferences.

However, the 49ers and Broncos aren't practicing together before Saturday's exhibition bout, so one might figure Shanahan would want some of his players on the first-team unit to get some ramp-up time.

If Purdy sits, it'll mean another round of the two other quarterbacks vying to be No. 2 on the depth chart, Trey Lance and Sam Darnold.

Shanahan had a response to a question about those two, too.

"They’re competing for it," he said of Darnold and Purdy.

On Thursday, Shanahan told KNBR 680 that it was possible Purdy got into the game on Saturday, but the head coach wasn't overly committal.

The Niners and Broncos kick off on Saturday, Aug. 19 at 8:30 p.m. ET from Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

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